PNGBLOGS

THE highest court in the land is the Supreme Court.Vested in it is the primary responsibility of interpreting the Constitution and all sub-ordinate laws.It is the last post for all matters legal and its decisions are binding on all but itself. Its decisions are final and take the form of laws.It must never create confusion or cause the public to question its decisions.This is an awesome responsibility that must be guarded religiously.Last Friday, the Supreme Court created a lot of confusion and concern by a decision which is yet to be erased from the minds of the people. The court handed down a decision in the matter of Sir Michael Thomas Somare versus the Ombudsman Commission but, at the same time, made observations that impacted a totally different matter which had been decided by an earlier Supreme Court.Last Friday’s court went to great lengths to actually discuss the merits and demerits of that earlier decision in a manner so as to leave no doubts in the mind of the reader that th

THE highest court in the land is the Supreme Court.Vested in it is the primary responsibility of interpreting the Constitution and all sub-ordinate laws.It is the last post for all matters legal and its decisions are binding on all but itself. Its decisions are final and take the form of laws.It must never create confusion or cause the public to question its decisions.This is an awesome responsibility that must be guarded religiously.Last Friday, the Supreme Court created a lot of confusion and concern by a decision which is yet to be erased from the minds of the people. The court handed down a decision in the matter of Sir Michael Thomas Somare versus the Ombudsman Commission but, at the same time, made observations that impacted a totally different matter which had been decided by an earlier Supreme Court.Last Friday’s court went to great lengths to actually discuss the merits and demerits of that earlier decision in a manner so as to leave no doubts in the mind of the reader that t

PNGBLOGS The Opposition today expressed serious concern about the accumulating controversies against the acting Prime Minister Sam Abal which he seems to ignore in pursuit of the nation’s top post. Deputy Leader of Opposition Sam Basil said that the people have had enough of controversies, legal blunders and ill-repute against the top post. “They deserve a Government led by a Prime Minister they can depend on and have confidence in,” Mr Basil said. “In any other country, any impropriety by a member of an acting Prime Minister is sufficient cause for resignation to protect the integrity of the public office. In PNG, we describe it as a police matter and refuse the perception that if a leader cannot manage and mentor those in his household to be good citizens, what qualification does he have to lead a nation?” Mr Basil, who is also Bulolo MP, slammed the latest revelations of questionable funding management in relation to the acting Prime Minister’s district funds. “The integrity with w

PNGBLOGS The Opposition today expressed serious concern about the accumulating controversies against the acting Prime Minister Sam Abal which he seems to ignore in pursuit of the nation’s top post. Deputy Leader of Opposition Sam Basil said that the people have had enough of controversies, legal blunders and ill-repute against the top post. “They deserve a Government led by a Prime Minister they can depend on and have confidence in,” Mr Basil said. “In any other country, any impropriety by a member of an acting Prime Minister is sufficient cause for resignation to protect the integrity of the public office. In PNG, we describe it as a police matter and refuse the perception that if a leader cannot manage and mentor those in his household to be good citizens, what qualification does he have to lead a nation?” Mr Basil, who is also Bulolo MP, slammed the latest revelations of questionable funding management in relation to the acting Prime Minister’s district funds. “The integrity wit

PNGEXPOSED A draconian and probably illegal policy that discriminates against pregnant female students at the Catholic Divine Word University in Madang is forcing young women into illegal backstreet abortions. The University does not allow pregnant female students to continue their studies beyond their current semester and the women are not allowed to re-enrol for two years after giving birth. Faced with such a prolonged delay to their studies and the loss of fees many pregnant students are being forced to seek illegal and often very dangerous back-street abortions in order to stay at the university. The DWU FALSELY claims its policy is a reflection of Papua New Guinea’s labour laws which the University says mandates a period of maternity leave that is greater than the time away from studies allowed in the University regulations. Labor lawyers and human rights activists both agree the University’s claims are complete nonsense. The University also claims its imposition of a two-year wai

PNGEXPOSED A draconian and probably illegal policy that discriminates against pregnant female students at the Catholic Divine Word University in Madang is forcing young women into illegal backstreet abortions. The University does not allow pregnant female students to continue their studies beyond their current semester and the women are not allowed to re-enrol for two years after giving birth. Faced with such a prolonged delay to their studies and the loss of fees many pregnant students are being forced to seek illegal and often very dangerous back-street abortions in order to stay at the university. The DWU FALSELY claims its policy is a reflection of Papua New Guinea’s labour laws which the University says mandates a period of maternity leave that is greater than the time away from studies allowed in the University regulations. Labor lawyers and human rights activists both agree the University’s claims are complete nonsense. The University also claims its imposition of a two-y

IT must be acknowledged that Justice Minister and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet is now a political animal and has vested political aspirations and interest to protect. However, it must not be forgotten that as minister, he is the chairman of Judicial and Legal Services Commission, the body that is responsible for the appointment of judges, magistrates and other constitutional office holders like the public prosecutor and public solicitor. While he is no longer the chief justice, there is still this connection that keeps the relationship alive in a fatherly position. He may be a political animal but he still holds the power and authority to protect the integrity of the courts and judges.  Sadly that is not the case anymore. For the attorney-general to come out and gun down the Supreme Court and judges last Friday without the benefit of appreciating the substance of the judgment in the Sir Michael Somare and Ombudsman Commission matter delivered the previous Friday and appraising hims

IT must be acknowledged that Justice Minister and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet is now a political animal and has vested political aspirations and interest to protect. However, it must not be forgotten that as minister, he is the chairman of Judicial and Legal Services Commission, the body that is responsible for the appointment of judges, magistrates and other constitutional office holders like the public prosecutor and public solicitor. While he is no longer the chief justice, there is still this connection that keeps the relationship alive in a fatherly position. He may be a political animal but he still holds the power and authority to protect the integrity of the courts and judges.  Sadly that is not the case anymore. For the attorney-general to come out and gun down the Supreme Court and judges last Friday without the benefit of appreciating the substance of the judgment in the Sir Michael Somare and Ombudsman Commission matter delivered the previous Friday and appraising hi

PUBLIC finance management procedures may have been breached involving K5.6 million in public funds that were deposited in May last year into the account of a private company owned by Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal and three other people. However, Mr Abal said last night there was nothing sinister and there was no impropriety in the establishment of the company which was set up on behalf of three local councils that included Maramuni LLG and Wabag LLG. The company, Wabag District Rural Holdings Ltd, was established to bring in economic development for the area which he described as a “fighting district” which was in transition into a more peaceful area after his “Lusim gun, holim savol” (Throw away the Gun, Pick up a Shovel) campaign and needed a major catalyst to kick-start the economy. No investors were keen to go to Wabag and the government must put the money down to help the people, he said. He said if it was his private company, he would have used private lawyers to set it up and n